St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-10
[COUyrlgRted. ISL

inpton. who either build, lease or rent
houses, and do their best to outshine each
other in the social world. Washington
society is O strange mixture, composed OF
manv circles, and circles within circles, all
revolving around one centre point. The IN
crease within the late years of rich people
making Washington their winter residence
has widened the circles to great extent, and
at the same time contracted the smaller ones,
and these seem to go on slowly in their own
course, unmindful of the noise and hustle
made by the newcomers.
The smaller circles are composed of the
old residents of Washington, who, like in
all the other cities, are exclusive, and very
particular as to whom they admit. The
greater circles are the Official and what
might be called the legislative.
A certain programme is laid down for
society at the White House, and it seldom
varies 1t consists of official receptions,
state dinners and few private at-homes by
the lady of the White House. The senators
and representatives wives all have their
DAYS for receiving. Added to these are the
receptions of prominent people; and one who
wishes to follow the gayeties of Washington
will have his hands full and very little spare
time if he attempts to keep up with the life.
In such large body as Congress there are
many very rich members whose wives take
the greatest delight in shining in this social
world and whose receptions have become
noted all over the country. Others have to
entertain on account of their official posi-
ton; but the majority are willing to live in
OWL on1 rnorolv nartipinate
in the gayeties.
The home life of Mrs Cleveland, who is
naturally at the head of the social world, is
very lovely and worthy of imitation. She is
remarkable woman for one of her age, and
the most rigorous of her critics have failed up
to this time, after the most severe of tests, to
be able to pick flaw or discover any dis
crepancy in her acts. One of the delights of
Mrs. Cleveland's life has been her residence
at Oak View. Together with her mother she
has made the country house perfect bower
of beauty and home comfort. Nothing
pleases the President more, after days
work, than to go driving over the country
roads to the little house on the hillside.
In the country house Mrs. Cleveland her
self superintends all the arrangements, and
q word to the servants from her is enough to
make them do their utmost to please her.
One would hardly think that in the contin-
ual round of official duties, where receptions
and visits follow closely on one another. that
she would have any time for housekeeping
at the White House, but like child with a
new toy she seems to be especially fond of
directing and experimenting personally all
the little matters which old housekeepers
find great relief in turning over to some one
else. Mrs. Cleveland even goes into the
kitchen, and it is said that were she obliged
to make the President bis coffee, or cook him
a pie, the dish she would serve up would be
as palatable and as inviting in looks as any
the chef could serve.
Oftentimes in the morning she will don a
long calico apron and wander about the
house busting and cleaning the apartments
following the servants to see that no dirt is
left in the corners or dust remains upon the
furniture. All this charms the President
who, although business-like and full of work
at all times, delights in surprising his wife
when she is in her workaday costume, and
it is said he likes her in this dress much bet
ter than in the evening costume she is so
often obliged to wear.
Mrs. Whitney leads the Cabinet ladies in
the gorgeousness of her receptions and the
vastness of her hospitality. Her entertain
ments last winter, and those that are prom
Used for this, are models of grandeur and
have quite eclipsed anything yet given at
Washington. She has a rich brother who
supplies her with many thousands of dollars
as pin money just for entertainments and it
is one of her greatest delights to shine in the
social world.
Mrs. Manning, when her husband was in
the Cabinet, had a beautiful house and was
O charming hostess. Mrs. Fairchild. as yet,
has not appeared in the social world to any
great extent; but this winter she has taken
a large house in fashionable quarter and
intends to entertain on grand scale. Mrs.
Endicott is very select in her entertainments,
while Mrs. Villas, who is a sweet and charm
ing lady, has won host of friends in this
city by the delightful manner in which she
receives her friends. The mourning in the
house of the Secretary of State has closed
the doors of that mansion to the public, but
there is no such reason for the darkness of
Attorney General Garland's residence dur
ing the season, except that he does not care
for entertainments, and his well-known
aversion TO dreSS-SultS and reception hnery
has long put him on the list of non-re-
ceivers.
There are very many members of Con-
gress who cannot afford to rent large
houses and entertain in the lavish manner
in which society of Washington seems to ex-
pect. They have, therefore, preferred to
take apartments at hotels where they can
entertain as they wish without great expense
entailed by keeping up large private resi-
dences.
The most prominent of the hotel livers is
Speaker Carlisle. He has lived at the Riggs
House ever since he has been Speaker, and
Is considered one of the standbys of the
hotel He has coy little apartment on
the third floor of the main house. with
pretty little parlor where Mrs. Carlisle re-
ceives her friends who call socially.
As the wife of the Speaker of the House
Mrs. Carlisle is obliged to hold many large
recep tons, and the hotel parlors are always
at her disposal. On her reception days
great stream of carriages can always be seen
near the G-street entrance to the hotel Mrs
Carlisle is great favorite in society here, for
she is a most charming lady, full of
womanly wisdom and motherly grace. The
Speaker himself is as great favorite in Con-
gress as his wife is in society. They live
alone because their two sons are grown, and
are in business in Wichita, Kas. The boys
are great favorites with their mother, and
the Speaker and Mrs. Carlisle usually visit
them once or twice year. They are both
prominent lawyers, and by the help of their